Speaking for the first time at a university commencement ceremony, best-selling author and radio commentator Eric Metaxas on Saturday called on nearly 500 Palm Beach Atlantic University graduates to be courageous in standing up against a "secular orthodoxy."

Alexandra Gropp and Jacqueline Muniz, both seniors in the School of Nursing at Palm Beach Atlantic University, have been named finalists for Student of the Year by the Palm Healthcare Foundation. The award recipient will be announced during foundation's Nursing Distinction Awards dinner today at The Breakers in Palm Beach. The students said they were honored to be nominated for the award by faculty members. "It’s so humbling. It’s a true testament to hard work paying off," said Gropp, of Princeton, N.J.

Five Palm Beach Atlantic University students have been chosen as recipients of Executive Women of the Palm Beaches 2013 scholarships. The students were recognized at the 30th annual Women in Leadership Luncheon on Thursday.

Palm Beach Atlantic University is developing online versions of two of its popular degree programs for adult students -- a Master of Science in Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Provost Dr. Joseph A. Kloba said that an online course format provides working, adult students greater access to further their education while continuing their employment and family obligations. Dr. Kloba noted that the leadership degree would be the first online graduate program to be offered at PBA. Both degree programs are currently offered in the traditional classroom format at Palm Beach Atlantic’s campuses in West Palm Beach and Orlando.